Mrs Gill Ross

I initially trained as a Registered General Nurse at the Thomas Guy School of Nursing, then specialised in paediatrics, gaining experience in acute and community settings, and subsequently working in the voluntary and independent sector within children's palliative care. I developed clinical skills, and gained insight into the impact of acute and chronic physical health issues on the child’s capacity to achieve potential, and on family functioning and dynamics. My desire to relate to clients with integrity and compassion led me to invest in my communication skills. I gained a Diploma in Bereavement Counselling in 2004, which I consolidated through supportive listening and voluntary work with bereaved children and families, and I subsequently gained a BSc (Hons) in Professional Practice (Children’s Palliative Care) with Greenwich University in 2009. In 2012, I moved back to the NHS, and completed a PG Dip in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing at Canterbury Christ Church University, following which I worked as a Health Visitor for several years in areas of notably high deprivation.

I found my experience as a pre and post graduate student to be motivating and inspiring, and grasped the opportunity to join the team at Canterbury Christ Church University in 2018. In my current role, I am a Senior Lecturer in Child Nursing and Deputy Course Director for the Return to Practice course, supporting students across both courses in my capacity as Personal Academic Tutor and Academic Assessor. I am the Child team representative for the Experts by Experience Group, an area in which I have a particular interest.

Whilst working in children's palliative care, my ambition to promote quality, evidence-based care led me into the sphere of practice development. I became jointly responsible for the clinical education of care staff across two hospice sites, and developed a competence-based clinical education programme for non-registered care staff. Within this time, I had involvement in the design and delivery of an education initiative to raise the profile of children's palliative care which was targeted at universal health and social care staff across Kent, and I gained experience as a visiting lecturer at King's College University in London and at Canterbury Christ Church University.

In my current role, I gained the PG Cert in Academic Practice in 2020, and I teach across a range of modules on the Child Nursing and Return to Practice courses; I lead on modules pertaining to the foundations of public health and health promotion at level 4, and to the care of children with life-limiting/life-threatening healthcare needs at level 5.

My area of research interest relates to educational strategies to support students to develop communication skills when working with children affected by life-limiting/life-threatening illness and their families.